At the Marquis's residence, Yihe Residence, Shi Yunsong briefly recounted the events of the day in court to Madam Zhou. He also mentioned that if Marquis Changqing was sensible, Madam Qian would come to discuss the marriage tomorrow, and advised Madam Zhou to inform Madam Wang in advance and prepare a response.
Having received the instructions, Zhou hurried to Qixia Courtyard to convey Shi Yunsong's message. Wang had been on tenterhooks for several days, and upon hearing this, she finally breathed a sigh of relief. She repeatedly thanked Zhou, and after a few polite words between the two sisters-in-law, Zhou tactfully took her leave.
Wang ordered someone to escort her out, and only after the room quieted down did she calm down and start thinking.
To be honest, she never thought much of the prestigious Changqing Marquis's mansion, which was merely a name without substance. The reason she wanted to discuss marriage with her senior brother's family was because she had spent a few years with her sister-in-law when she was young and knew that she was gentle and not the type to torment her daughter-in-law. Her senior brother also treated her like a younger sister. If she married her daughter to his second son, she wouldn't have to worry about the troubles of her relatives or deal with complicated sacrificial rites. Her daughter would be living in a paradise.
Who would have thought that a spur-of-the-moment decision to attend a banquet would lead to this mess?
Thinking of the Changqing Marquis's mansion, Wang felt a pang of sadness. Not to mention that the emperor favored civil officials and neglected nobles, Qian was indeed a difficult person, just as her sister-in-law had said. Her own daughter was extremely naive, and Wang worried that if she married her daughter off there, she might suffer.
Perhaps it's true that once you get something, you don't think it's worth it anymore. When she heard that the Marquis's family had returned to propose marriage, Madam Wang no longer had the same obsession as before. Instead, she pondered and felt that it wasn't a good match. But what could she do? Her daughter had been held in the arms of the young master in broad daylight. Even if no one mentioned it now, who knew if people would say it in the future? Now, her daughter could only avoid being gossiped about if she married into the Marquis's family.
Madam Wang wiped the tears from the corners of her eyes, got up and went to Qingxi Courtyard. She thought about how she had been inquiring about the young master these past two days. He was quite a promising young man, but it was a pity that he had such a stepmother, who had ruined such a fine young man.
In Qingxi Courtyard, Shi Lan stood by the window, casually leaving the tender leaves and green buds blooming in the wind on a piece of paper. When Wang Shi came in and saw the painting on the paper, her heart ached.
Although her daughter's skills in music, poetry, calligraphy, and painting were not outstanding, they were still excellent. She was really unwilling to give her daughter up to the Changqing Marquis's family.
Seeing the sorrow on her face, Shi Lan assumed that the Marquis's mansion had rejected the marriage proposal and that Wang Shi didn't know how to tell her about her next plans.
He glanced at Zhi Cui and gave her a meaningful look, and Zhi Cui immediately led the maids serving in the room out.
Shi Lan gently helped Wang Shi to the couch in the east side room, poured her a cup of tea, and waited for Wang Shi to drink it and calm down before saying, "Although the Marquis's mansion is wealthy, it is also a place where filth and evil reside. I was raised with a family tradition and do not covet wealth and glory. Rather than 'forcing' people to accept us unwillingly, it would be better to go to a quiet place, where we can feel at ease."
Wang Shi, who had already recovered, turned pale again upon hearing Shi Lan's words. She quickly stood up, punched her hard, and said, "What nonsense are you talking about? Your mother has gone to great lengths to prevent you from going to the family temple. Are you trying to tear out your mother's heart by saying this?"
Seeing that Wang Shi's eyes were filled with tears and she looked heartbroken, Shi Lan knew that she had misunderstood. She quickly said, "Alright, alright, I won't say anything more. Whatever you say, Mother, is what I will do."
As she spoke, she nestled into Wang's arms, gently stroking her chest to help her catch her breath.
Madam Wang wiped away the tears from the corners of her eyes, gently patted her daughter's shoulder, and whispered, "You are young and don't know the consequences. The ancestral temple is not a place for you. I have already used my methods, and Madam Qian will be coming in the next couple of days. I'm here to ask you if you would be willing if I married you off there."
Shi Lan's lips curled up slightly. Of course she was willing. Haoze's clone was right there. If she didn't go, how could she awaken his consciousness?
When Wang saw that she didn't speak, she thought that she was unwilling. Considering that her daughter was skilled in music, chess, calligraphy and painting, it was understandable that she would look down on the illiterate noblemen.
Now that the situation is settled, we can only try to think positively and speak optimistically.
Madam Wang's mind raced, but she showed no sign of it on her face. She simply said in a low voice, "I've sent people to inquire. The young master's mother comes from a scholarly family in Jiangnan. He's already a successful candidate in the provincial examination at a young age, and after next year's provincial examination, he'll be a Jinshi. He's not much different from your father." Madam Wang looked down at her daughter's head and said, "Before I got married, I also preferred someone with high talent, but what good did it do? Your maternal grandfather had good judgment in betrothing me to your father, and we've lived peacefully for so long." Madam Wang paused, seeing her daughter leaning softly against her, and her heart softened. Just like when she coaxed her daughter as a child, she gently patted her and said, "I haven't met the young master in person, but from what you've said, I think he's a good person. I just hope you only remember the good things, and forget the bad things as if they were just a passing breeze. That way, life can last longer."
Wang's gentle words brought tears to Shi Lan's eyes, and her throat tightened, but she could only respond vaguely.
Wang patted her daughter gently and swayed her body slightly. After a while, seeing that her daughter had stopped crying, she breathed a sigh of relief.
The next morning, Madam Qian arrived with a cart full of gifts. As soon as she entered Xifutang, she smiled like a flower.
"Madam, you look even healthier and more radiant these days."
The old lady raised her eyelids; although she still harbored resentment, she couldn't very well reach out and hit the smiling person.
"She's getting old, just getting through the days. But Madam's complexion is getting rosier and rosier, she looks very comfortable," the old lady said with a smile, knowing that her son had warned her and that Marquis Changqing would definitely embarrass her. She then glanced to the side and said, "How can you be so tactless? Hurry up and serve Madam tea?"
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